LA BARCELONITA

A playground that serves as a catalyst for social and commercial activity

LA BARCELONITA

29

Jan

2024

Barcelona

La Barcelonita
Westfield La Maquinista | Barcelona | Spain
 
A playground that serves as a catalyst for social and commercial activity
 
 
La Barcelonita | Official Video | 100 Channel
 




 

© 100architects


 
 

©Dídac Balanzó


“La Barcelonita” is a strategic intervention of the iconic corner and pedestrian crossroad situated in the open-air retail street of Westfield La Maquinista, in Barcelona (Spain). Drawing inspiration from the characteristic vibrant summer vibes and beach hues of the famous beach of La Barceloneta, we named it “La Barcelonita”, envisioning it as the little sister of La Barceloneta.
 
 

©Dídac Balanzó


 
 

©Dídac Balanzó


The project is a unique street intervention designed with simplicity yet effectiveness in mind. Positioned strategically in a key spot around the iconic corner known as La Quilla, it forms a central hub where various pedestrian pathways converge, encouraging a dynamic circular flow around the intervention, activating the public realm.
 
 

©Dídac Balanzó


 

©Dídac Balanzó


 
Leveraging its location and geometric layout, the entire project revolves around this pedestrian node, acting as a ball joint that articulates a smooth pedestrian transition between one street and the other, while captivating passersby with its shapes and colors.
 
Pavements and objects are arranged in different stripes radiating from the geometric center of the perfect circle that it inscribes, where each stripe offers user-friendly amenities, including hidden trampolines and floor graphics, as well as volume-based elements like slides, ribbons, and seating features.
 
 

©Dídac Balanzó


 

©Dídac Balanzó


Taking advantage of a blank wall, the project features an inhabitable vertical labyrinth with the look & feel of beach cabins, catering to the curiosity of children, inviting them to explore it, climb it, circulate it, and ultimately, leading them to a slide that brings them back to the central playscape area.
 
Additionally, a Food and Beverage (F&B) Kiosk at the heart of the project contributes to adding a level of commercial dose, boosting sales and drawing in customers.
 
 

©Dídac Balanzó


While “La Barcelonita” primarily functions as a playground, it also serves as a catalyst for commercial activity in the surrounding retail spaces. By increasing foot traffic and extending the time customers spend in La Maquinista’s facilities, the project contributes to enhancing the overall retail experience.
 
 

© Catherine Gomez


 

© Catherine Gomez


 

© Catherine Gomez


 

©Dídac Balanzó


 

©Dídac Balanzó


 

©Dídac Balanzó


 

© Dídac Balanzó


 

© Dídac Balanzó


 
CREDITS
 
PROJECT NAME: La Barcelonita
DESIGN: 100 Architects (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
DESIGN TEAM: Marcial Jesús, Javier González, Mónica Páez, Lara Broglio, Ponyo Zhao, Keith Gong, Cosima Jiang, Michelle Aldora, Jango Zhang & Yuntong Liu.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT TEAM: Matias Hernandez, Jenny Fan & Eva Jiang
CLIENT: Unibail – Rodamco – Westfield
SIZE: 500 m2
STATUS: Built
LOCATION: Barcelona, Spain
PHOTOGRAPHY: Dídac Balanzó
VIDEOGRAPHY: Catherine Gomez (Go Mess!)

More images

Street Intervention

What is an street intervention?
This is the smallest scale of interventions that takes place in the public realm of a city, related to the altering of a portion or a whole street or square, whether vehicular or pedestrian, by adding or installing new alienated elements to the existing configuration of the street.
 
This typology intervenes in existing urban settings by occupying the ground of a given area and by acting as an accessible and multifunctional platform, catalyzing social interactions by drawing attention to the “new place”. It is a tactical intervention with a non-territorial nature, keeping a clear formal and aesthetic distinction from the existing surroundings.
 
This type of intervention is oftentimes used by Retail Operators to transform their spaces into unique and visually appealing environments that increase foot traffic, attracting and retaining customers by turning their commercial spaces into “experiential retail” helping them stand out in a competitive market, increasing customer satisfaction and loyalty while enhancing their brand presence potentially leading to higher sales, without the need of big renovation investment.


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